Open letter to all HOPS grower and worker members

Since the Brexit vote, there has been some mixed messaging in the press and on social media with regards to freedom of movement and the ability to work in the UK.

HOPS attended a Governmental meeting yesterday (Monday 6 March 2017) and wishes to confirm that as a bare minimum, EU citizens will have a minimum of two years free unfettered access to employment in the UK from the point that article 50 is invoked and implemented.

HOPS will continue to recruit as it does currently and the Government has assured us that nothing will change until March 2019 at the very earliest.

In addition to this reassurance, the Government is currently looking at the possibility of a temporary seasonal workers scheme, however, this is in its very early stages and it has been very clearly stated that this would not be implemented until the UK has left the EU, although it is likely that we would know the terms of that scheme prior to leaving.

We would like to reassure you that HOPS is lobbying at the highest level to protect the supply of labour and employment of temporary workers in the UK.